The bishops have called on the Government to recognise the state of Palestine at their summer conference. The bishops discussed the humanitarian crisis that exists “due to violence between Israel and Palestine,” according to a statement released following the bishops’ meeting. Their meeting called for an “end to violence on all sides and for a…
A Twitter account associated with TG4 was found to have violated Twitter guidelines with a video of social media personality James Kavanagh doing a skit of Catholic ceremonies. BLOC TG4 posted a video which saw Mr Kavanagh performing an ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) rendition of the Our Father, as he sat with a crucifix…
Irish bishops ignoring the issue of Holy Communion for pro-abortion politicians would be a failure of leadership, writes David Quinn In 1998, the Catholic bishops of Ireland, England and Wales issued a now mostly forgotten document called One Bread One Body. Its main subject matter was inter-communion, that is, whether or not non-Catholic Christians could…
In Reasonable Hope: Philosophical Reflections on Ultimate Meaning by Patrick Masterson (Catholic University of America Press, $34.95pb/ £22.99; if required a case bound edition is available at £99.00) In this study Patrick Masterson poses the question: ‘What does it all ultimately mean?’ In effect he is asking what is the purpose of our lives? The response…
The Catholic Church has upheld the Sacred Heart of Jesus for a long time, and it’s as relevant now as ever, writes Jason Osborne The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was, and remains, one of the most widespread and popular devotions in the Church. In this hectic, scattered…
Only if spiritual communion with God were a bad thing would infant Baptism be a bad thing, writes Dr Gaven Kerr Former president Mary McAleese has again taken aim at the issue of infant Baptism. In a recent address, she indicated that she believed that the practice of infant Baptism within the Church is problematic…
Catholic bishops will consecrate the Middle East to the Holy Family on June 27. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem announced details of the act of consecration, which will take place in the Year of St Joseph, in a June 11 letter to his brother bishops. Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa indicated that it would take place during…
Writing to his peers, Catholics who have reached a venerable age like he has, Pope Francis told older Catholics that God is close to them and still has plans for their lives. “I was called to become the Bishop of Rome when I had reached, so to speak, retirement age, and thought I would not…
Letter from Rome In a seemingly dramatic decision this week, three-quarters of America’s bishops voted to move ahead with a controversial document on the Eucharist despite objections that it could disrupt Church unity and set the stage for a fatal showdown with US President Joe Biden. The key word in that sentence, however, is “seemingly”,…
Joyce the Student: University College 1898-1902, Dublin by John Kelly (Gleoiteog Press, €15.50/£12.99) During June an air of Joycean enthusiasm descends on Dublin, with all kinds of events — and even non-events in the eyes of some — taking place. This year, however, a local writer makes a real contribution by the publication of a book,…
David Quinn
John L. Allen Jr.
Peter Costello